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Boston Terriers

I posted before but did not get any responses. My 7 mos old Bsoton seems to pant excessively when it's hot out. What concerns me is that she is not running or even playing when this happens. We live in Cleveland so it is just getting warm and I am concerned. I took her and my large St. Bernard for a walk and it took her over an hour to stop panting. I just want to make sure this is normal.

Alot of pushed-in nose dog breeds have breathing problems. Esp. when it is warm out. Bostons can get over heated extremly fast. Limit their daily activity to a min. when it is hot, and next to nothing when the summer gets extremly humid. Never leave him outside for any extended amount of time. I would not even walk him much in the extremly hot, humid summer. quick potty breaks are it.

My friend has a boston and no matter the temp or humidity it can't breathe after a short walk. Its not a breed built for heat or activity. I remember a dog breed quiz once said they required air conditioning-made me laugh but its probably true it couldn't take a hot house long. We are outside of cleveland so the weathers the same.

If I have any beliefs about immortality, it is that certain dogs I have known will go to heaven, and very, very few persons -James Thurber

Noticed the same with my boxer. He is so active in winter. Extreme cold doesn't seem to bother him and he never gets tired of running in the snow. After a short walk in hot weather he starts to pant and flops on the floor when we get home. You'd think he just ran a marathon. I can relate....heat knocks it out of me too. I take a water bottle with a squirt top and collapsible dish on longer walks to make sure he has enough to drink. Also think his dark colouring doesn't help as it probably absorbs more heat.

My Boston starts panting after a short while if we sit out on the front porch in the sun. After she moves over to the shade its not long before she stops. That black coat really absorbs the heat. Mindy doesn't have a flat face, though. She loves to chase a tennis ball, but I limit her to about 4 to 5 throws because she gets really into it and will start breathing hard if we do more. Even with 4 or 5 chases it tires her out a bit. Although she may not be pantin much when I take the ball away, she will sprawl out on the floor for a bit afterwards.

An hour is a long time, some times when its really hot and I walk the dogs (Frenchies) I would wipe them down or put them in a luke warm bath, getting them wet is an easy way to let them cool down.Try it. Sue